EU, US Condemn Zimbabwe Over Post-Election Crackdown

A soldier fires shots towards demonstrators, on August 1 2018, in Harare, as protests erupted over alleged fraud in the country’s election. Zinyange AUNTONY / AFP

The European Union and United States on Tuesday condemned violent attacks targeting the Zimbabwe opposition since elections last week, as 27 supporters of the MDC party were released on bail.

President Emmerson Mnangagwa, declared winner of the country’s first ballot since the downfall of Robert Mugabe, again vowed to protect rights, but the government has been accused of overseeing a brutal post-vote crackdown.

Last week’s poll, which was marred by soldiers opening fire at a protest killing six people, was meant to re-launch Zimbabwe on the international stage and attract foreign aid and investment after the repression of the Mugabe era.

Mnangagwa won the presidential vote by a narrow margin, and the opposition Movement for Democratic (MDC) has accused him of rigging the result.

“The eruption of violence… stand(s) in sharp contrast to the high hopes and expectations for a peaceful, inclusive, transparent and credible election,” said a joint statement from the EU, US, Canada and Switzerland.

It called for the government “to ensure that the Zimbabwean Defence Forces act with restraint, in full respect of international human rights norms”.

People who allegedly sought refuge in the headquarters of the MDC following unrest the day before, are detained in Harare, on August 2, 2018 inside a Zimbabwe police armoured vehicle outside the party’s offices. MARCO LONGARI / AFP

Night raids by masked men

The MDC has accused security forces of abducting and beating opposition activists and their families since the election result was declared early Friday.

Legal challenge

“We are very pleased obviously that they have been released,” defence lawyer Denford Halimani told AFP following the hearing at Harare’s magistrates court.

At least five of the accused are polling agents who were visiting MDC headquarters to hand in polling returns and collect travel expenses, according to the defence.

The 27, who deny all charges, were required to post bail of $50 (43 euros) and to report to Harare police station on Friday,.

“We have advised them to lay low and not to engage in any activities that might result in other charges. This system thrives on harassing people,” Halimani said.

Mnangagwa, Mugabe’s former right-hand man who took power with military backing in November, has accused the MDC of fomenting the unrest, but he also said he would set up an independent commission to investigate the killings.

The MDC is expected to soon launch a legal challenge over the election result, in which Mnangagwa won 50.8 percent of vote, just scraping in above the 50 percent run-off threshold.